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Pseudorabies

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Pseudorabies is a contagious disease that primarily affects swine, but it can also

affect cattle, sheep, goats, cats, and dogs. It is particularly devastating to breeding

sows and piglets.

In adult pigs, the disease causes abortion and stillbirths, respiratory problems, and

occasionally death. In newborn pigs, it attacks the respiratory and central nervous
systems, causing incoordination, sneezing, coughing, and death. Although U.S.

commercial swine herds have been free of this disease since 2004, pseudorabies is

present in wild swine in this country, making them a potential source of infection for

domestic pigs.

What To Look For

In piglets:

Central nervous system signs: tremors, seizures, hind leg paralysis (piglets will

sit on their haunches similar to a dog; termed "dog-sitting"), recumbency,

paddling, or walking in circles

Incoordination

Sneezing

Coughing

Death

In adult pigs:

Coughing

Fever

Pneumonia

Central nervous system signs: muscle tremors and convulsions (less common

and occur occasionally)

Reproductive issues, such as failure to breed, abortions, mummified piglets,

stillbirths, and small litters

How To Prevent This Disease

Pseudorabies is spread by animal-to-animal contact between an infected pig that is

shedding virus and an uninfected pig. The virus can also be spread on inanimate

objects such as boots, clothing, and equipment. Breeding can also spread

pseudorabies.

Biosecurity is the best defense against this disease. Producers should:
Use double fencing and other measures to keep pigs with access to the

outdoors away from feral swine. Contact with feral swine puts swine herds at

risk of pseudorabies virus exposure. 

Source new pigs from validated-qualified (VQ) swine herds. VQ herds are

routinely tested for pseudorabies and swine brucellosis. Buying from a VQ herd

reduces the risk of introducing these diseases into your herd.

Develop a biosecurity plan to protect your herd.

How It Is Treated

There's no treatment for pseudorabies. Your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics

to control secondary bacterial infections. Pseudorabies vaccines are available but

require APHIS and State animal health official approval for use. Approval may be

granted during an outbreak or another emergency situation.

What To Expect When Your Pigs Have Pseudorabies

If your pigs show signs of pseudorabies, your veterinarian will collect blood samples

and tissues (from dead piglets, for example) to submit to the State veterinary

diagnostic lab. The lab will screen the samples for pseudorabies virus and submit

any non-negative results to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames,

IA, for confirmatory testing.

Herds that test positive for pseudorabies must be depopulated. APHIS and State

officials will also conduct an epidemiological investigation to make sure the virus

didn't spread to other swine herds.

APHIS provides indemnity and compensation to producers to:

Remove animals that are affected, suspected, or exposed to diseases of

concern

Eliminate dangerous viruses from the environment

If your herd is impacted by pseudorabies, you may qualify for a Federal indemnity

payment to reimburse you for your related losses. To learn more, contact our Swine

Health Center at vs.sp.asep.swine@usda.gov.
Report Signs of Animal Disease

Producers or owners who suspect an animal disease should contact their

veterinarian to evaluate the animal or herd. Find an accredited veterinarian.

Animal health professionals (veterinarians; diagnostic laboratories; public health,

zoo, or wildlife personnel; and others) report diagnosed or suspected cases of

nationally listed reportable animal diseases to APHIS District Offices and to the State

animal health official as applicable under State reporting regulations. 

Controlling Pseudorabies

Pseudorabies in the United States

Pseudorabies has been in the United States for at least 150 years. Although the

disease is still present in wild swine, commercial production swine herds in all 50

States have been pseudorabies-free since 2004. A swine herd is considered

commercial when there are adequate measures in place to prevent contact with and

infection from feral swine and pigs that could come in contact with feral swine, both

of which are potential carriers of the pseudorabies virus. Sporadic pseudorabies

infections occur in outdoor production herds or swine that have access to the

outdoors, especially where contact with feral swine is possible.

Eradicating Pseudorabies

APHIS developed minimum program standards (129.85 KB) for eradicating

pseudorabies from domestic swine in the United States. These standards were

endorsed by swine health practitioners and State animal health officials at the

annual meeting of the United States Animal Health Association in October 2003.

You can also find more about eradicating pseudorabies by reading "Pseudorabies

(Aujeszky’s Disease) and Its Eradication: A Review of the U.S. Experience" (APHIS

Technical Bulletin No. 1923).

Wildlife Disease Surveillance and Research
APHIS Wildlife Services conducts surveillance and research on dozens of wildlife

diseases, including pseudorabies and other diseases associated with feral swine. For

more information, visit our National Wildlife Disease Program and National Wildlife

Research Center.